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18 Tips to Help Your Kitchen Sell Your Home

By
Home Stager

Below are 18 tips to help your kitchen sell your home. 

 

  1. Show off your counter space.

This is a key for anyone who cooks!  So remove your spices and paper towel holders and anything else that will eat up your space!

 

  1. Remove magnets, photos, etc from your refrigerator.

Don’t make your buyers do the eye bounce. Besides, you don’t want them spending more time reading the front of your fridge than they do your home. 

 

 

3.Clean your disposal

It’s not like they’re going to look in your disposal, but you won’t want them to smell what’ gone in it. Here’s how to clean your disposal

 

4.Remove small floor rugs.

Like your countertops, you want your buyers to te space. The small rugs eat it up. 

 

 

  1. Remove your knife block

Two reasons...they eat up space on your counter and for safety reasons. This is for the protection of agents and buyers in your home. 

 

  1. Remove dishracks, sponges, and dishrags from the sink area. 

 

  1. Edit what’s under your sink.

Yes, they will look! 

 

  1. Remove your garbage can when showing your home.

Worse than not removing it for a showing is not removing it when your home is being photographed.

 

  1. Put away all pet-related items. 

They will probably realize that you have a pet (and let’s hope it’s not because of any pet odors) but it’s still best not to have your doggie bed or kennel and play toys all over the house. 

 

10.Organize your cabinets and drawers.

Again...they will look. Crammed drawers and cabinets signal a lack of space. 

 

  1. Edit and organize your pantry

This is another area that your buyers will look at. Organize it and edit what you don’t need. (remember...a clean and uncluttered space is calming!)

 

12.This should go without saying but thoroughly clean your kitchen

Over, under, around, behind...all over!!!

 

  1. Make sure there is plenty of light.

All rooms benefit from good lighting but especially in the kitchen. I usually have a small lamp that fits under the cabinets for extra lighting. 

 

  1. Ditch the old towels and add a few new towels for a pop of color. 

Yes, we all have our go to towels we use for everyday cooking! But why not buy a few towels that can add a pop of color!

 

  1. Add color with a plant or fresh bowl of apples or lemons. 

This is a good way to add some color and life to your kitchen. 

 

 

  1. Make sure your appliances shine. 

Weiman makes a good stainless steel appliance cleaner. But, there are others on the market. 

 

  1. If you have a kitchen window, make it sparkle. 

 

  1. Remove all of the little plants, figurines, etc that you may have around your counter. 

I’ve had more clients than I can count who filled their areas above and around the sink and/or window with little plants and assorted figurines. It made them happy and that’s good, but when showing your house, it’s good to remove these. 

 

 

I didn’t mention updates such as new cabinets and countertops or even new appliances, hardware, or lighting.  When done right, they can add to the perceived value of your home. 

 

But not everyone’s budget will allow for major kitchen updates. The 18 tips above are things that everyone can handle. 

 

Let your kitchen shine and show your buyers the space!

Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

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for Houston & Harris Counties
and
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for all states


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Comments(32)

Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Excellent tips and I definitely wouldn't have thought about removing the knife block but in today's world better to be safe than sorry. 

May 18, 2021 08:29 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Sharon Lee hi Sharon... removing the knife block is something I've been asking my sellers to do for donkey's years. Always worry a child will reach over when no one is looking and pull out a knife.

May 18, 2021 10:28 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Kathy,
I have to remove my travel magnets? Darn.  LOL  All great tips to keep prospects focused on the home and not on stuff. 

May 18, 2021 09:01 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Nina Hollander, Broker You ARE brilliant!!!  My knife block is on the counter but do try to keep unnecessary items off of it. 

Grant Schneider I've seen refrigerators that were covered with photos, calendars, drawings... it was distracting. 

May 18, 2021 10:23 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Kathy Streib I keep a knife block on my counter, but ask all my sellers to put theirs away when home is being shown.

May 18, 2021 10:29 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Sham Reddy CRS it's so important that buyers can see the space a kitchen has to offer. 

Kat Palmiotti many sellers don't realize it but buyers will open cabinets and look in the pantry. 

Wayne Martin many homes are dark and uninviting. You have to let as much light in as you can. 

May 18, 2021 10:26 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Brian England these are the things that will not break the bank.

Bill Salvatore - YVP Blog you don't want to scare away potential buyers if you have your pet's bed and crate and toys all over. 

May 18, 2021 12:26 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Michael Jacobs have to remember those ears. 

Ron and Alexandra Seigel Stainless steel looks nice but the upkeep is enormous. As soon as you shine it, there's a fingerprint on it. 

George Souto one of my clients had small rugs to hide cracks in his tile!!

 

May 18, 2021 12:36 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Rocky Dickerson and thank you. Good seeing you on ZOOM today!

Ed Silva I've always had clients remove their knife blocks. You can never be too careful. 

Sharon Lee you hate the thought of something happening but you never know. And Nina Hollander, Broker is right. Some curious child could reach for them. 

 

May 18, 2021 12:39 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Not until you decide to sell Carol Williams Otherwise....it's your home!!!

Nina Hollander, Broker All it takes is one crazy person or curious child!  One of my sellers who had a lot of dogs wanted to light a candle in every room. I told him absolutely not!!!

May 18, 2021 12:40 PM
Carol Williams

I guess that will be never since I told the kids I'm not moving until they take me out in a pine box.  LOL

May 18, 2021 12:44 PM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Hi Kathy Streib, brilliant suggestions. The kitchen is the heart of a home, why not showcase it the best we can. 

May 18, 2021 03:40 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Those are all very excellent suggestions for getting kitchens market ready, Kathy.

May 18, 2021 07:39 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

CONGRATULATIONS Kathy, on having this blog FEATURED in the Old Farts Club group!  

May 18, 2021 07:39 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Hi Kathy,  Thanks for sharing such great advice on making your kitchen shine. 

May 18, 2021 07:43 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

You might think you're an old fart, but you have tremendous wisdom that should never be taken for granted. ;

May 18, 2021 10:17 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Kathy love that kitchen I want it ... needless to say now I will suffer with ours a bit longer:)Endre

May 18, 2021 10:33 PM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Morning Kathy.

The living/family room, master bedroom and bath then the kitchen.  If it passes the wife test we'll buy it.

May 19, 2021 12:10 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

GREAT home staging kitchen prep tips, Kathy!

I LOVE organizing a pantry and kitchen cabinets more than any other staging work.

May 19, 2021 04:33 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I just bought the stainless steel cleaner you mentioned here and I love it.  It's so much better than what were using before.

May 22, 2021 03:32 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Featured in the group:  BARTENDER, MAKE IT A DOUBLE.

May 22, 2021 03:33 PM
Dorte Engel
RE/MAX Leading Edge - Bowie, MD
ABC - Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton & rest of Maryland

Dear Kathy,

Great tips! Replacing the kitchen does not usually pay off and may not be the new owners' taste, so just spiffing up the old one is the best way to go.

Jun 03, 2021 07:08 AM
Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho
Sandpoint Realty LLC - Sandpoint, ID
North Idaho Real Estate - 208-255.6227

Hello Kathy,  Those lemons really stand out.  All good idea and practices but for some reason the lemons caught my eye.  Will remember for sure.  Mark

Jun 03, 2021 07:24 AM